Page 295 of The Heart You Kept

“Thank you.” I smile down the phone, feeling happy for the first time today. “I’ll see you on the weekend.”

“Okay, bye.” I hang up and my coffee arrives, and I hold my hand out and look down at it, finally I can sit here and stare at my beautiful ring in peace.

5 P.M.

Jonty and Helene stand at the window and peer out onto the street. “Another carful just pulled up.”

“Surely not,” I stammer as I nervously reapply my lipstick. “What the hell are they all doing here?” I pull my fingers through my hair and straighten my skirt. “Damn it, I should have worn something nicer.”

A swarm of activity has begun outside, paparazzi are gathering out the front of my store. “Get back,” Philippe instructs them as he holds his hands out to direct them the distance he wants them to stay away.

“How do they even know who I am?” I frown as I dial Edward’s number.

“It wouldn’t be hard to find you, they just have to google your name,” Helene calls.

“Hello, Miss Sorenson,” he purrs through the phone.

Butterflies swirl at the sound of his voice, it’s so damn delicious that I can’t stand it. “Hello.” I swoon.

“How was your day, sweetheart?”

“Wonderful,” I whisper. “How was yours?”

“Even better than that.” I can tell that he’s smiling too. “What’s up?”

“Photographers have started congregating outside my store.”

“Yes, so I heard.”

“Well….”

“Well, what?”

“Well, what do I do?”

“Ignore them.”

“What?” I frown. “How do I ignore them?”

“You walk out to the car with your guards and you get into it and then they will drive you into our secured garage and then they’ll leave.”

“Oh.” I frown as I think. “So I don’t have to do anything?”

“No. Not unless you want to.”

“Want to what?”

“If you want to answer their questions you can, although I would advise against it because if they know you are going to entertain them then they will hound you even more.”

“Oh.” I begin to pace as I think.

“Is that all?” He cuts me off.

“I mean…. Are you in a rush or something?”

“No, but the ten men sitting around the conference table who are all watching and waiting might be.”

I hear a collective chuckle of men.